To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

AT a GLANCE EDITORIAL FEATURES SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS Fan Festa success see page 7 n VOL 80 ISSUE 09 WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2009 WWW.WSUSIGNPOST.COM SiOTQOS M lj- 'Cash for Clunkers' reaches dead end Students share mixed emotions about shortlived government program By James Dohnert news reporter I The Signpost Monday brought the official end of the 'Cash for Clunkers' incentive program. The program officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) was intended to provide incentives to U.S. residents to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and stimulate auto sales. Credit ranging from $3,500 to $4,500 was given to consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient cars from varied dealers. Eligible cars must have been less than 25 years old, in running condition and been traded for a vehicle that cost no more than $45,000 and offered at least 22 miles per gallon. Student reception to the program has been mixed at Weber State University. "I think there are better ways to spend tax payers' money right now," said car owner and student Justin Frey. "There are people going hungry out there." While the program was only intended to cost the government $1 billion, the budget was increased by $2 billion on Aug. 7. Funds were supposed to last until Labor Day but due to high demand they were exhausted before September. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has estimated a total of more than 400,000 dealer transactions have taken place within the past month. "I think it's a good idea for the environment," said Abdullah Alqahtani, a WSU freshman. The Department of Transportation (DOT) See Clunkers page 5 ill afi LA Tin : U 1 i i 1 i y - " - PI IUIU Ifl UAKKON CUMMINCS AUUAItlJ PKtsS A 'Cash for Clunkers' sign is displayed at a dealership in Indianapolis last Friday before the program expired. The Obama administration brought the popular $3 million program to an end on Monday. f . . r Li viyU Li u Lie; n n n foULi IsSD feu llliLLLiOUVy Union Building procedures revisited after a summer assault in the Atrium By Cimaron Neugebauer news editor I The Signpost A summer semester altercation that began with a theft and led to a felony charge is causing the Shepherd Union Building administration to review its operating procedures. In July, a Weber State University student was arrested after stealing food from a buffet line for a second time during the day. A Union Building worker stepped in to inform the student he would need to pay for the food. Union Building workers called WSU police to the scene after the suspect turned violent. His arrest resulted in a second-degree felony robbery charge as well as disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor. The case was settled with a guilty plea and the felony charge was reduced to a class A misdemeanor for obstructing justice. The incident involving food and assault was the first one of its kind for university police to respond to at the Union Building, according to WSU Chief of Police Dane LeBlanc. "When we are called to something we are expected to act," said LeBlanc who told The Signpost police were just following the statutes. "We had victims, we had Sodexho who were deprived of their property and a staff member who was assaulted in the process." LeBlanc explained if the individual would have simply taken food, the charge would have possibly only been for simple theft, however, since there was an assault 1 i i jfti3IJI&l 5 , -- 1 ; .' Members of the WSU Football Team grab lunch at a food buffet table in the Atrium after an afternoon practice a week before classes began in August. Sodexho dining services hosts many dining events on campus throughout the year for groups and programs. Food is allowed only to those associated with the event and not anyone on campus. during the theft, it became a robbery, a second-degree felony. While WSU police were simply following procedure, other enti ties on campus may be changing procedures as a result of the incident. Bill Fruth, director of the Shepherd Union Building said he wants to re-evaluate procedures from a service efficiency standpoint "We haven't changed our operating procedures, but we are reviewing them," Fruth said. Because of space issues, the day the incident happened the food buffet was in a different location in a more open area. Typically, food "We feel that we learned some things that we can improve upon that provides clarity for everybody." Bill Fruth, director of the Shepherd Union Building services for events are held upstairs in the ballroom of the Union Building, where there is controlled access. However, betweennew-student orientation, die Youth Archery World Championship and regular business that day, Fruth estimates more than 1,500 people were using the building. He said with many events happening at once, management became a challenge. lhis past summer was the first summer the administration had the entire Union Building completed for use and Fruth said it involved a "learning curve that we won't repeat. We will find a better way to do tilings." Last year the Union Building provided nearly 4,000 programs in the building and Frulh said with the large volume of people, "there are going to be glitches, with the pure volume of things, but we want to do everything we can to reduce See Arrest page 5 New eco-friendly bus system frustrating students Longer wait times for students cause crowding on bus with limited routes around campus By Samantha Neri correspondent I The Signpost On Monday morning students were surprised to find the shuttle only made one stop on campus besides the stop at the Dee Events Center parking lot. "I was a little frustrated at first," said Adam Putnam, a Weber State University junior majoring in nursing. "I had the last year off going to a different college. I came back again, got on the shuttle and waited until someone said this is the only stop. I didn't hear anything about it no e-mail, no notification, or I just didn't see it." The location for the stop is in the round-a-bout by the southeast corner of the Stewart Library. "It isn't too bad," Putnam said. "Most of my classes are nearby so it isn't too much of a problem." Other students waiting for the bus Tuesday afternoon seemed to have a similar opinion. Laura Stoddard, an undeclared freshman, thinks it is nice the shuttle doesn't go all over campus. "It is convenient that it is not all over the place," Stoddard said. "There aren't different stops and it is in the middle of campus. You don't go all over the place and it is less confusing." Ashley Testo, a freshman, looked on the bright side of having one shuttle bus stop. "It is better than walking all the way here," Testo said. at night. At five the busses don't come as often." Putnam said in one of his classes students were talking about the reason behind the one shuttle stop. "We were talking today in my class wondering why they had only one stop," Putnam said. "No one knew why, but someone said T think they are trying to save money and gas and go a little greener.' When I heard that I was less upset because being a little more energy efficient isn't a bad thing." On one of the bus rides from between stops, Stoddard said the driver talked about the new shuttles. "The bus driver talked about how it is saving a lot of money," Stoddard said. "Saving on gas and being efficient and good for the environment. I like that." One other problem about the shuttle service was mentioned. "When they buy new shuttle busses, they need to get ones with higher ceilings. I have to stand up like this," Lynch said tilting his head to the side. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. The students gave a few complaints on Tuesday afternoon waiting for the shuttle. "I don't like how it is crowded," Stoddard said. "I think it would be better if they did more." The shuttle runs from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a bus coming every ten minutes during the busy times on campus. In the afternoon the shuttle has a longer wait time before the next bus comes. "Around this time, since there are less people, (the drivers) hang out a while at the stops," said Joe Lynch, a junior majoring in nursing. "On the way over here, the bus driver stopped and had a cigarette break, then continued to drive us over (from the Dee Events Center)."For Sydney Barnes, the shuttle is a little bit of an inconvenience. "All my classes are at the bottom of campus, it isn't too bad," Barnes said. "Time wise too mv classes ko from seven in the comPressc natural gas (CNC) powered bus leaves the WSU bus stop on Tuesday. The shuttle stop is located on the southeast corner of morning until five "e tevvar Library. The new bus is one of two the university purchasesd to save more than $200,000 a year in estimated operating costs. 1 nnnn i w w n 5 it f n ! ' i 5 ii ; r" iVUH.W (ALU OKI J

Public Domain. Courtesy of University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.

Full-Text

AT a GLANCE EDITORIAL FEATURES SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS Fan Festa success see page 7 n VOL 80 ISSUE 09 WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2009 WWW.WSUSIGNPOST.COM SiOTQOS M lj- 'Cash for Clunkers' reaches dead end Students share mixed emotions about shortlived government program By James Dohnert news reporter I The Signpost Monday brought the official end of the 'Cash for Clunkers' incentive program. The program officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) was intended to provide incentives to U.S. residents to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and stimulate auto sales. Credit ranging from $3,500 to $4,500 was given to consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient cars from varied dealers. Eligible cars must have been less than 25 years old, in running condition and been traded for a vehicle that cost no more than $45,000 and offered at least 22 miles per gallon. Student reception to the program has been mixed at Weber State University. "I think there are better ways to spend tax payers' money right now," said car owner and student Justin Frey. "There are people going hungry out there." While the program was only intended to cost the government $1 billion, the budget was increased by $2 billion on Aug. 7. Funds were supposed to last until Labor Day but due to high demand they were exhausted before September. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has estimated a total of more than 400,000 dealer transactions have taken place within the past month. "I think it's a good idea for the environment," said Abdullah Alqahtani, a WSU freshman. The Department of Transportation (DOT) See Clunkers page 5 ill afi LA Tin : U 1 i i 1 i y - " - PI IUIU Ifl UAKKON CUMMINCS AUUAItlJ PKtsS A 'Cash for Clunkers' sign is displayed at a dealership in Indianapolis last Friday before the program expired. The Obama administration brought the popular $3 million program to an end on Monday. f . . r Li viyU Li u Lie; n n n foULi IsSD feu llliLLLiOUVy Union Building procedures revisited after a summer assault in the Atrium By Cimaron Neugebauer news editor I The Signpost A summer semester altercation that began with a theft and led to a felony charge is causing the Shepherd Union Building administration to review its operating procedures. In July, a Weber State University student was arrested after stealing food from a buffet line for a second time during the day. A Union Building worker stepped in to inform the student he would need to pay for the food. Union Building workers called WSU police to the scene after the suspect turned violent. His arrest resulted in a second-degree felony robbery charge as well as disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor. The case was settled with a guilty plea and the felony charge was reduced to a class A misdemeanor for obstructing justice. The incident involving food and assault was the first one of its kind for university police to respond to at the Union Building, according to WSU Chief of Police Dane LeBlanc. "When we are called to something we are expected to act," said LeBlanc who told The Signpost police were just following the statutes. "We had victims, we had Sodexho who were deprived of their property and a staff member who was assaulted in the process." LeBlanc explained if the individual would have simply taken food, the charge would have possibly only been for simple theft, however, since there was an assault 1 i i jfti3IJI&l 5 , -- 1 ; .' Members of the WSU Football Team grab lunch at a food buffet table in the Atrium after an afternoon practice a week before classes began in August. Sodexho dining services hosts many dining events on campus throughout the year for groups and programs. Food is allowed only to those associated with the event and not anyone on campus. during the theft, it became a robbery, a second-degree felony. While WSU police were simply following procedure, other enti ties on campus may be changing procedures as a result of the incident. Bill Fruth, director of the Shepherd Union Building said he wants to re-evaluate procedures from a service efficiency standpoint "We haven't changed our operating procedures, but we are reviewing them," Fruth said. Because of space issues, the day the incident happened the food buffet was in a different location in a more open area. Typically, food "We feel that we learned some things that we can improve upon that provides clarity for everybody." Bill Fruth, director of the Shepherd Union Building services for events are held upstairs in the ballroom of the Union Building, where there is controlled access. However, betweennew-student orientation, die Youth Archery World Championship and regular business that day, Fruth estimates more than 1,500 people were using the building. He said with many events happening at once, management became a challenge. lhis past summer was the first summer the administration had the entire Union Building completed for use and Fruth said it involved a "learning curve that we won't repeat. We will find a better way to do tilings." Last year the Union Building provided nearly 4,000 programs in the building and Frulh said with the large volume of people, "there are going to be glitches, with the pure volume of things, but we want to do everything we can to reduce See Arrest page 5 New eco-friendly bus system frustrating students Longer wait times for students cause crowding on bus with limited routes around campus By Samantha Neri correspondent I The Signpost On Monday morning students were surprised to find the shuttle only made one stop on campus besides the stop at the Dee Events Center parking lot. "I was a little frustrated at first," said Adam Putnam, a Weber State University junior majoring in nursing. "I had the last year off going to a different college. I came back again, got on the shuttle and waited until someone said this is the only stop. I didn't hear anything about it no e-mail, no notification, or I just didn't see it." The location for the stop is in the round-a-bout by the southeast corner of the Stewart Library. "It isn't too bad," Putnam said. "Most of my classes are nearby so it isn't too much of a problem." Other students waiting for the bus Tuesday afternoon seemed to have a similar opinion. Laura Stoddard, an undeclared freshman, thinks it is nice the shuttle doesn't go all over campus. "It is convenient that it is not all over the place," Stoddard said. "There aren't different stops and it is in the middle of campus. You don't go all over the place and it is less confusing." Ashley Testo, a freshman, looked on the bright side of having one shuttle bus stop. "It is better than walking all the way here," Testo said. at night. At five the busses don't come as often." Putnam said in one of his classes students were talking about the reason behind the one shuttle stop. "We were talking today in my class wondering why they had only one stop," Putnam said. "No one knew why, but someone said T think they are trying to save money and gas and go a little greener.' When I heard that I was less upset because being a little more energy efficient isn't a bad thing." On one of the bus rides from between stops, Stoddard said the driver talked about the new shuttles. "The bus driver talked about how it is saving a lot of money," Stoddard said. "Saving on gas and being efficient and good for the environment. I like that." One other problem about the shuttle service was mentioned. "When they buy new shuttle busses, they need to get ones with higher ceilings. I have to stand up like this," Lynch said tilting his head to the side. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. The students gave a few complaints on Tuesday afternoon waiting for the shuttle. "I don't like how it is crowded," Stoddard said. "I think it would be better if they did more." The shuttle runs from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a bus coming every ten minutes during the busy times on campus. In the afternoon the shuttle has a longer wait time before the next bus comes. "Around this time, since there are less people, (the drivers) hang out a while at the stops," said Joe Lynch, a junior majoring in nursing. "On the way over here, the bus driver stopped and had a cigarette break, then continued to drive us over (from the Dee Events Center)."For Sydney Barnes, the shuttle is a little bit of an inconvenience. "All my classes are at the bottom of campus, it isn't too bad," Barnes said. "Time wise too mv classes ko from seven in the comPressc natural gas (CNC) powered bus leaves the WSU bus stop on Tuesday. The shuttle stop is located on the southeast corner of morning until five "e tevvar Library. The new bus is one of two the university purchasesd to save more than $200,000 a year in estimated operating costs. 1 nnnn i w w n 5 it f n ! ' i 5 ii ; r" iVUH.W (ALU OKI J